The EU Commission has announced that it has submitted its first reports on how technology companies such as Google, Twitter, Facebook, Microsoft and TikTok are combating fake news and disinformation on their platforms, within the framework of the application code containing the rules against disinformation of the Union.
In the statement, it was reported that the said reports included data on how much of the platforms’ disinformation actors’ advertising revenue was blocked, the number and value of political ads accepted or rejected, examples of manipulative behavior identified such as the creation and use of fake accounts, and the effect of fact-checking of information.
“DEFAULTS ABOUT COMMITMENTS”
It was stated in the statement that all platforms that accept the application code submitted their reports on time, and it was noted that Twitter’s report did not include sufficient data and there were deficiencies in the commitments that would strengthen the verification of the accuracy of the information.
In the statement, it was stated that the next reporting process will be done after 6 months.
TWITTER IS DISAPPOINTED
Commenting on the issue, Vera Jourova, Vice President of the EU Commission, said, “I am disappointed to see that the report submitted by Twitter lags behind the others. I expect Twitter to show a more serious commitment to its obligations arising from the rules.” she said.
Pointing to the importance of publishing the first application reports on the anti-disinformation rules of the platforms, Jourova noted that more work should be done to ensure that researchers have access to data.
“We need to have more transparency,” Jourova said, pointing out that information quality cannot be trusted only on online platforms and information must be independently verified. said.
ABOUT THE PROCESS
The new application code, prepared by the EU against the increasing disinformation with the Kovid-19 epidemic and the Russia-Ukraine war, was signed by more than 30 platforms in June last year.
The new code, signed by major platforms like Meta, Google, Twitter, TikTok, and Microsoft, included broader commitments and safeguards against online disinformation.
Digital platforms had committed to further fight against disinformation.
The reinforced code of practice includes more than 40 commits and over 100 custom measures. Disinformation spreaders not benefiting from ad revenues, avoiding fake accounts, bots or artificially montage video manipulation, providing better tools to identify and flag disinformation, increased fact-checking, transparency of political ads, explicit identification of ad sponsors, reporting of platforms’ implementation of commitments, center to assess code compliance was included in the measures.
It was stated that digital platforms will fulfill these commitments within 6 months, and a progress report will be prepared on the subject at the beginning of 2023. (AA)